Tennis: ‘Stan the Man’ crushes Paire to win Japan Open

TOKYO — Top seed Stan Wawrinka won the Japan Open on Sunday after thrashing Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-4 to capture his fourth title of the year.

French Open champion Wawrinka took just 65 minutes to complete victory in Tokyo with Paire, who underwent a scan on his left ankle before the final and needed pain-killing injections to play, clearly in discomfort.

“It feels really great, it’s been a special week,” said Wawrinka, sporting a red “Stan the Man” T-shirt and snapping selfies with the silver trophy.

“I took my time to get to the top but once I get somewhere, I stay,” added the Swiss after winning his 11th career title. “Once I started to beat the top guys and win trophies, I got the confidence to know I can do it. But four in one year is amazing.”

Wawrinka quickly found his groove and fierce pressure earned him a break for 4-2 in the first set. The world number four pressed home his advantage with a thumping crosscourt forehand which wrong-footed his close friend Paire.

With little left in the tank after toppling defending champion Kei Nishikori in Saturday’s semi-finals, Paire took a tumble early in the second set but gamely battled on despite being obviously in pain.

The “lucky” sneakers held together by tape he wore in his win over Nishikori granted Paire no such mystical powers against Wawrinka as he looked to become the first Swiss to win the Japan Open since Roger Federer in 2006.

Several times Wawrinka’s dipping one-handed backhand, one of the most potent weapons in men’s tennis, whistled past a grimacing Paire, whose brave resistance finally ended when he coughed up a double-fault on match point.

Wawrinka, who is a perfect 4-0 in finals this year and is one of four players — along with Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Federer — already qualified for next month’s season-ending ATP Tour Finals in London, confessed to having mixed feelings after his victory.

“I knew before the match Benoit was struggling a little bit physically,” said Wawrinka. “But I played my best tennis. I played very aggressive and kept him on the back foot.”

Paire, meanwhile, has pulled out of next week’s Shanghai Masters event because of his injury.

“When I woke up today I couldn’t walk,” said the Frenchman, projected to rise from 32 to around 25 in the world rankings following his fine Tokyo run after finishing an injury-hit 2014 season at 118th.

“An hour before the match I wasn’t sure I could play. I had injections in my ankle and just couldn’t feel anything.

“It’s tough to move when you don’t feel your feet,” he added. “But I gave everything I could give. I lost to my best friend so I’m not really sad.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Kei Nishikori wins Japan Open

TOKYO — Kei Nishikori won the Japan Open title for the second time in three years on Sunday as he defeated Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 in the final.

US Open finalist Nishikori added the trophy to one he also took over the Canadian in 2012 at the Ariake Colosseum. Play was held under the closed roof of the venue as rains from an approaching typhoon fell.

The title was the second is as many weeks for top Japanese player Nishikori, who also won in Kuala Lumpur last weekend.

It was the fourth time this season the pair have played, with Nishikori winning three of the encounters.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Del Potro warns he’s hitting the heights

SHANGHAI – Juan Martin del Potro said he was playing even better than when he won the 2009 US Open after pushing Novak Djokovic to the limit in a gripping Shanghai Masters final.

The towering Argentine won this month’s Japan Open and beat world number one Rafael Nadal in the Shanghai semi-finals, before coming up just short in a third-set tie-breaker with Djokovic.

But the six-foot-six inch (1.98 meter) del Potro has shown he is primed for another assault on the majors with three titles this year and two appearances in Masters finals.

“I think I’m playing even better than many years ago,” the 25-year-old world number five told reporters in Shanghai.

“I couldn’t win a Grand Slam like I did in 2009 but I have reached finals in the Masters. I have already won three tournaments. I beat the top guys, which is fantastic for me,” he added.

“I think I’m playing even better than 2009 or 2008 or last year. That’s important. That’s a good thing for the future. I still have the same goal, which is getting closer to the top guys. If I keep working like this, I hope I can be there one day.”

Before Tokyo, del Potro won in Rotterdam and Washington this year and lost the Indian Wells Masters final to Nadal. He beat world David Ferrer in the Wimbledon quarter-finals before losing to Djokovic in the semis.

In Shanghai, the stunning 6-2, 6-4 victory over Nadal – handing the Spaniard only his fifth defeat this year – qualified del Potro for the World Tour Finals in London.

He said he was still not quite in the same league as the quartet known as tennis’s ‘Big Four’: Nadal, Djokovic, Andy Murray and Swiss great Roger Federer.

But del Potro, the only man other than that exalted quartet to win a Grand Slam title since 2005, is quietly confident that he is not far away from their level.

“I think they are still the favourites for each tournament,” he said. “But I believe in myself. I’m very confident. I’m very pleased with my level. I’m very honest with myself.

“I think if I’m healthy and if I play like today or yesterday I will have the chance to play in good battles like we did today.”

Speaking after his sobering semi-final defeat, Nadal said that del Potro was one of the “biggest candidates” to win another Grand Slam.

Djokovic said there was no doubt about the Argentine’s quality, but his biggest problem was his sheer size and staying injury-free in their high-impact sport.

“Since his first Grand Slam title in 2009, we all knew has the calibre to be a top tennis player and always a contender to win any Grand Slam he plays,” said the world number two.

“With his serve and his game, for his height, he moves extremely well. He uses the court very good. He has a very good anticipation. He’s mentally really strong.

“So he has the potential, there’s no question about it. Now, for somebody his height, I think it’s two or three times more physical effort to overcome these kind of matches.

“That’s I think the biggest obstacle he has, to be able to stay fit throughout the whole year.”

source: sports.inquirer.net